1. You are legally required to have health insurance, unless you qualify for an exemption.

The Affordable Care Act requires you to enroll in a health insurance plan unless you qualify for an exemption from the law. You will report whether you have coverage -- or whether you are exempt -- when you file your taxes in April.

Despite what you may have heard, you can’t be arrested or thrown in jail if you don’t have health insurance in Florida. You may, however, be forced to pay a tax penalty if you aren't enrolled in a health insurance plan that meets the requirements of the Affordable Care Act.

To avoid the penalty, you must either obtain qualified health coverage or prove your eligibility for an exemption.

What Qualifies as Coverage?

If you have any of the following types of health coverage, you won’t have to pay a penalty:

This article explains the costs of health care plans offered under Obamacare (the Affordable Care Act) for individuals or families who are currently uninsured or not covered by a job-based health plan.

The easiest way to sign up for a health plan under the Affordable Care Act is to go to the online health insurance marketplace for Florida. If you're not ready to enroll right now, you can get more information online, over the phone, or in person.

Where's the Florida Health Care Exchange?

You can find the health insurance exchange for Florida at HealthCare.gov. This is where you can learn about the various health insurance options available to you under Obamacare. If you see a plan you like, you'll be guided through the enrollment process online.

You might not see any mention of Obamacare or the Affordable Care Act when you visit the exchange website, but rest assured you’ve landed in the right place. The exchange was established solely for the purpose of informing consumers about the Affordable Care Act and providing plans under the law.

For 2015, Obamacare's open enrollment period ended on February 15. That means it’s too late for many people to use a health insurance exchange to get coverage for 2015.

If you let the Obamacare deadline pass you by this year, here are some things to know.

You Can Still Enroll If You Qualify for a “Special Enrollment” Period

Certain life events make you eligible to sign-up for Obamacare outside of open enrolllment.

Florida's 2015 Special Enrollment Period for Tax Time

In Florida, you may qualify for a special enrollment period if you were uninsured in 2014 and have only now become aware of the tax penalty for not having health insurance. You may still have to pay a tax penalty for 2014, but signing up now will help you avoid a bigger penalty next year.

This special enrollment period runs from March 15, 2015 until April 30, 2015.

Other Special Enrollment Events

Additional circumstances under which you may qualify for special enrollment include:

Do you have to worry about new IRS Forms 1095, 8965, or 8962? The Affordable Care Act, aka Obamacare, requires almost everyone to do one of the following three things when they file their taxes this year:

confirm they had health insurance coverage for 2014

claim an exemption from health coverage, or

pay a penalty when when they file their return.

For some people, complying with the Affordable Care Act will mean filling out new tax forms. Fortunately, that’s not true for most folks -- and even those who need assistance with Obamacare’s new tax rules can get help.

Here’s what you should know about filing your taxes in the era of health care reform.

On March 4, 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear arguments in King v. Burwell, a case that could decide the future of the Affordable Care Act. The central question before the court is whether residents of states that use the federal health insurance marketplace (HealthCare.gov) are eligible for subsidies to purchase health insurance -- or whether financial assistance can go only to people in states that run their own health insurance exchanges. Opponents are fighting over the actual wording of the law, arguing about whether or not it allows the federal government to offer subsidies through its own exchange. The Supreme Court's decision on the matter is expected in June.

King v. Burwell puts at risk the tax-credit subsidies for more than 13 million people -- that’s the number of Americans expected to obtain financial assistance through HealthCare.gov in 2016.

The following map from the Kaiser Family Foundation shows the states in which residents could lose federal subsidies for health insurance. Subsidies are safe only in the gray states. (For an interactive version of this map and the estimated number of subsidized enrollees in Florida, see the Kaiser Family Foundation website.)

Get a colonoscopy, mammogram, vaccinations, and other essential services for free

The Affordable Care Act requires health insurance plans to offer certain preventive care services free of charge -- or more accurately, for nothing more than the cost of your monthly insurance premiums. This rule applies to most plans sold directly by insurance companies and all plans sold through HealthCare.gov, the health care marketplace for Florida. Covered preventive services are available for free (meaning no co-pay or other out-of-pocket charges) whether or not you’ve met your plan’s annual deductible.

Below, you’ll find a list of free preventive benefits -- screening tests, counseling services, and vaccinations -- for adults, women, and kids. But first, here are some pointers to help you avoid an unexpected bill for services you thought were preventive.

Use a network provider. To get a preventive service for free, you must use a health care provider in your insurance plan’s network.

Know the difference between “preventive” and “diagnostic.” Doctors can use screening tests for either preventive or diagnostic reasons. For example, having a routine mammogram every year or two is preventive care for women over 40. But if you schedule a mammogram because you feel a lump or have breast pain, that’s diagnostic. Likewise, a routine colonoscopy is recommended for adults over 50, but if your doctor schedules a colonoscopy to investigate a problem like blood in your stool, it becomes a diagnostic procedure. Preventative services are free; diagnostic procedures are not. (If the timing is right -- say, you go to the doctor because you find a lump in your breast but you also happen to be due for an annual mammogram -- your doctor may bill the diagnostic procedure as preventive, but that’s not something you can count on.)

Under the Affordable Care Act, most Americans are required to have health insurance. When you file your taxes in April, you'll have to report whether or not you enrolled by the deadline.

To avoid a penalty for 2014, you must have had coverage beginning no later than May 1, 2014. For 2015, you must have signed up for a qualifying plan by February 15, 2015.

If you didn't get covered, and you don't qualify for an exemption, you'll have to pay a penalty when you file your tax return.

How the Obamacare Tax Penalty Works

For 2014, if you didn't have health insurance and you don't qualify for an exemption, you'll have to pay a penalty of $95 per adult plus $47.50 per child (up to a maximum of $285 for a family) or 1% of your household income, whichever is greater. The flat dollar amount is reduced by 50% for dependents under the age of 18. (For tax help, see Obamacare and Taxes: What You Need to Know Before You File.)

The fee increases each year until you get coverage. For 2015, the penalty is $325 per adult plus $162.50 per child (with a family maximum of $975) or 2% of annual family income. And in 2016, the fee will be $695 per adult plus $347.50 per child (with a maximum of $2,085) or 2.5% of family income.

One way to satisfy the Obamacare requirement that you have health insurance is to obtain coverage under Medicaid. If you qualify for Medicaid and enroll in Florida's Medicaid program, you do not have to sign up for another insurance plan.

Florida Has Not Expanded Medicaid

The Affordable Care Act expanded Medicaid eligibility to cover more people who can’t afford health insurance. The U.S. Supreme Court later decided that it was up to individual states to decide whether or not to expand Medicaid. Because Florida has not yet to chosen to expand Medicaid eligibility, you may have fewer options for health coverage than people in states where Medicaid is growing.

Do You Qualify for Medicaid?

Each state has its own rules for Medicaid eligibility. Whether you qualify depends on your income level and other factors. To find out whether you are eligible for Medicaid under Florida's existing rules, contact the Florida Medicaid office. You can also find out whether you qualify when you apply for health insurance at HealthCare.gov. more...

Worthless insurance is one of many scams that unscrupulous people are trying to sell to consumers confused by Obamacare. To satisfy the requirements of the new law, you must have a qualified insurance plan. If you don't, not only will you miss out on cost-saving insurance subsidies, you will probably be subject to a tax penalty.

Beware of scammers who may try to persuade to you buy insurance outside of HealthCare.gov. Below is a list of common types of scams.

Many self-employed people will be quick to tell you that getting and paying for health insurance is one of the biggest hassles they face. But this may change for the better under Obamacare, which provides new coverage options for the self-employed.

Are You Self-Employed or an Employer?

Before you start evaluating your options for health coverage, you need understand whether you are in fact considered self-employed under Obamacare.

The law says you are self-employed if you are an independent contractor or a sole proprietor without employees. (If you hire other independent contractors to do some work for you, you probably still qualify as self-employed.) Self-employed people can use the new health care marketplace to purchase individual health insurance plans.

If you have employees – usually, workers whose income you report on a W-2 at the end of the year -- you’re considered an employer. In that case, you can learn about purchasing health insurance for yourself and your employees through the SHOP Marketplace.

If you’re over the age of 65, your health insurance options under Obamacare depend on whether or not you’re covered by Medicare or another insurance plan. To find out what, if anything, you need to do, find the situation below that applies to you.

You have Medicare. If you’re already enrolled in Medicare, you’re considered covered under Obamacare, and you don’t have to do anything. In fact, it’s illegal for someone who knows you have Medicare to try to sell you a plan through a health care marketplace.

Obamacare enhances your existing Medicare coverage in a couple of important ways:

The difficulties of unemployment are often compounded by the lack or loss of health insurance. But millions of Americans who are currently without both a job and health coverage may find relief under Obamacare. That's because new coverage options are now available through HealthCare.gov, the health insurance marketplace serving Florida.

All plans available through the marketplace offer essential medical benefits, including preventive care, emergency services, and prescription drug coverage. You can't be turned away if you have a pre-existing medical condition and, as an unemployed person, you probably qualify for significant cost-saving subsidies.

When you sign up for a marketplace health plan, your coverage can start within a few weeks. Usually, you must sign up during an open enrollment period. (For 2014, open enrollment closed on March 31. The next open enrollment period begins on November 15.) But leaving your job and losing job-based health insurance makes you eligible for a special enrollment period. That means you'll have 60 days to sign up for a new health plan.

Here's an overview of your options for health insurance if you are unemployed, plus more information about what might happen if you don't get health coverage. (And if you're looking for information about applying or eligibility for unemployment, see our articles on Florida unemployment benefits.)

Under Obamacare, students who are U.S. citizens or legal residents will be required to have health insurance. Beginning in 2014, those without coverage may pay a tax penalty.

Four Ways Students Can Get Health Insurance Under Obamacare

If you are a student, you have several options for obtaining health insurance that meets the requirements of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

1. Stay on your parents health insurance. If you’re under the age of 26, your parents may be able to add you as dependent to a health insurance plan purchased through the marketplace at HealthCare.gov.

2. Stay on your college or university’s health coverage. If your school plan or policy began on or before December 31, 2014, it meets the ACA requirements for coverage. Because insurance plans offered by colleges and universities vary widely, state governments are still figuring out how to treat student insurance in the future. Policies may vary by state after 2014. Talk to your school’s health plan office for more information. more...

ADVERTISEMENT - LegalConsumer.com does not review or endorse advertisers or their products.

As a business owner, you may have heard the buzz about Obamacare’s “employer mandate.” Maybe you’re still wondering what it is and whether it applies to you. The short answer is that if you have fewer than 50 full-time-equivalent (FTE) employees, you don’t have to worry about the employer mandate. (For a definition of FTE, see the end of this article.) The mandate requires only larger companies to offer health coverage to employees.

That said, there are plenty of important things for owners of smaller businesses to know about Obamacare. Here’s a summary of key points for Florida business owners who have between one and 49 employees:

You aren’t legally required to offer health insurance to your employees. If you have fewer than 50 FTEs, whether or not to provide coverage is entirely up to you.

You may be legally required to notify your employees about Obamacare. Whether or not you choose to provide insurance, if your business is covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act, you must notify all your employees about Obamacare’s basic provisions.(The original deadline for notifying current employees was October 1, 2013; after that all new hires must be notified.) The U.S. Department of Labor has published sample notices you can use. There’s no penalty under the law for failing to provide notice.

To learn whether or not the FLSA applies to your business, see this helpful article from Nolo.com.

Soon, businesses that employ 50 or more full-time-equivalent (FTE) workers will have to offer insurance coverage or face a tax penalty, called the "employer shared responsibility payment." This law, known as Obamacare's "employer mandate" will take effect in 2015 or 2016, depending on the size of the business.

Employers with 100 or more full-time employees will have to offer coverage to at least 70% of eligible workers in 2015. That number jumps to 95% in 2016. Employers who employ 50 to 99 full-time workers do not have to comply with the law until 2016.

The employer mandate will apply to your business if even one of your employees would qualify for cost-saving health insurance subsidies through HealthCare.gov, the health insurance marketplace for Florida.

For example, say you employ 105 full-time workers and don't offer a qualifying health plan. If just one of those workers can buy an individual health insurance plan at HealthCare.gov and qualify for reduced premiums with Obamacare's tax credit, you'll have to pay a penalty -- and it could be a hefty one.

On the other hand, if you offer coverage to your employees that is considered affordable and meets the legal requirements for coverage, your employees wouldn't be able to save money by purchasing an individual plan in the marketplace, so you won’t have to pay the penalty.

If you’re confused by your health care choices under Obamacare -- or if you’re having a difficult time completing an application -- there are many ways to get help. For example, you can call the Florida health insurance exchange for telephone support or obtain free, in-person guidance from trained assisters or “navigators.” You can also seek help from a licensed insurance agent or broker.

Given the technical flaws in many online health care marketplaces, getting help from an agent or broker is an attractive option for many people. Agents and brokers, while grappling with most of the same delays and hassles faced by individuals, can make the process easier in several important ways, including:

determining whether you qualify for subsidies

helping you compare plan prices and coverage details, while explaining any complicated features or terms

recommending plans that would be best for you (government assisters are not permitted to suggest specific plans), and

walking you through the application process.

A qualified broker will have years of experience and expertise, and may be able to help you understand your health coverage options in a way that less experienced navigators cannot.

Agents or Brokers Will Help You for Free

You won’t have to pay an agent or broker to help you. They usually receive payments from the insurance companies whose policies they sell. Before agreeing to let an agent or broker help you, be sure the one you choose is able to offer the full range of health plans available at HealthCare.gov.

Did you purchase health coverage through the Florida health exchange last year? If not, are you still uninsured? If you answered yes to either question, you'll want to know these important facts about the next Obamacare open enrollment period.

1. For 2015, open enrollment starts later and ends sooner.

For 2015, you can enroll in a new marketplace plan -- or change your existing plan -- from November 15, 2014 through February 15, 2015. If you want or need new coverage beginning January 1, you should sign up by December 15, 2014.

2. Automatic enrollment isn't as good as it sounds.

If you purchased an individual or family plan through the marketplace last year and you do nothing this year, you’ll probably be automatically re-enrolled in your current plan for 2015. Auto enrollment sounds handy, but it could lead to a number of unpleasant surprises: your monthly premium may change, your eligibility for subsidies may fall out of date, or you may even be automatically enrolled in a different plan if your insurer stops offering your existing coverage.

When registered domestic partners or civil union partners apply for coverage in the new health insurance marketplace, there’s one question that almost always arises: Do we apply based on our separate incomes, or must we include all the income we make as a couple?

The answer depends on the state where you live.

States other than California, Nevada, or Washington. In almost all states, registered domestic partners or civil union partners who apply for insurance via the state’s health insurance exchange must do so separately. Each partner includes only his or her separate income, and this amount determines health plan costs and eligibility for cost-saving subsidies. It works this way because domestic partners are not considered married for federal tax purposes. (If you registered first and got legally married later, this article doesn't apply to you. You must apply as a married person and report your combined income.)

California, Nevada, or Washington. In these states, which extend community property laws to registered domestic partners, domestic partners must usually apply using half of the partners’ combined incomes. (We confirmed this with the legal department at Covered California after repeatedly receiving conflicting information from representatives staffing the exchange’s customer service phone line.) This is because IRS rules require that domestic partners registered in these community property states report half of their combined community income on their federal taxes each year.

If you received a notice from your health insurance company saying your insurance plan has been cancelled, you’re not alone. Millions of Americans have learned they may not be able keep their existing health coverage under Obamacare. Cancellation is primarily affecting those who purchase individual insurance plans, such as the self-employed, but some people employed by small businesses are losing their existing coverage, too.

The Obama administration, Congress, and insurance providers have engaged in a strenuous debate over whether the cancellations will stand or whether some individuals will be allowed to continue coverage under their cancelled plans for another year or more. On March 5, 2014, the Obama administration announced that you can keep your cancelled policy through 2016. The catch is that state insurance officials must agree to this extension. So far, about half the states have decided to allow renewals, while the rest have decided against them.

To learn whether you may have the option of keeping your existing plan, contact your insurance provider.

When Obamacare launched, the federal and state health insurance marketplaces (also called “exchanges”) were plagued by technical troubles. Many people who tried to sign up for new health insurance plans online in the early days were unable to complete their applications.

Because of these difficulties, some individuals and application assistants turned to the old-fashioned way of getting health insurance -- paper applications.

Applying on Paper May Not Be Better or Faster

When facing a slow or broken online health insurance exchange, using a paper application may seem tempting -- at least it would provide the feeling of getting something done. However, paper forms may not speed up the process at all. On the contrary, they could slow down your application even more.

The worker who reviews your paper application must manually enter the information from your forms into the same system you would use online at your state’s exchange. It won’t work any faster for them than it does for you. Plus, using a paper application opens up more opportunity for error by putting more people between you and your goal of getting insurance.

It’s still best to apply online if you can. That said, if you feel that you’re unlikely to come back and apply for health insurance later, you may want to go ahead and complete a paper application now. Follow these steps to apply on paper.

How to Get a Paper Application for Obamacare

If you want to use a paper application to apply for coverage under the Affordable Care Act, you have a couple of options:

If you live in a state that uses the federal health insurance marketplace -- or in a state that operates its own exchange and provides a link to a downloadable paper form -- you can get the forms right now.

In any state, you can call the health insurance exchange customer service center or contact an in-person assister -- such as a navigator, certified application counselor, or certified agent or broker -- to get a paper application and help filling it out.

What do Obamacare health care plans cover?

All health plans purchased through the HealthCare.gov, the health insurance marketplace for Florida, must include the following benefits. These are known under Obamacare as “essential health benefits”:

Ambulatory patient services (meaning outpatient care you receive without being admitted to a hospital)

What if I already have health insurance?

If you used the marketplace to purchase a plan last year. Most people who purchased their 2014 insurance plan from an online marketplace will be able to automatically renew their coverage for 2015. (This does not apply to states that have decided to scrap their exchanges and start over, including Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, and Oregon.) While automatic renewal sounds convenient, it has serious downsides:

If your insurer decides to cancel your current plan, you could be switched to another plan without warning. The new plan may cost you more or change your eligibility for financial assistance.

Automatic re-enrollment could mean you aren't getting the right subsidy package. That could leave you facing higher monthly premiums now or -- if you take more assistance than you're eligible for -- a big tax bill later.

You may miss out on a better deal or better coverage if you don't compare all available plans to your current plan.

While allowing yourself to be automatically re-enrolled is better than going without insurance, it's best to take advantage of open enrollment and research your options. Shop around and evaluate new plans and costs. Even if you decide to stay with the plan you have, you can use open enrollment to confirm your personal information and ensure you're getting the right amount of financial aid.

If you purchased an individual or family insurance plan outside the online marketplace. Asl long as the plan meets Obamacare's coverage requirements, you can keep it. Or, you may use HealthCare.gov to compare plans and replace it. If you keep your current plan, you won't be eligible for the cost-saving subsidies available for plans purchased through the exchange.

Be sure to check with your current insurance provider before canceling a health insurance policy; you may have to wait until the end of your current policy year to make a change.

If you have insurance through an employer. As long as you're happy with your plan, you can keep it. You're considered covered under Obamacare. On the other hand, if you're not satisfied with the coverage you have, you may be able to switch to an individual plan through HealthCare.gov.

Keep in mind that if you buy a plan through the exchange:

Your employer will not have to pay a portion of your monthly premiums.

You may not qualify for cost-saving subsidies, even if your income falls within the eligible range. If your employer offers coverage that is considered affordable and sufficient under the law, you won't qualify to save on premiums or out-of-pocket costs for plans purchased through HealthCare.gov.

What is the health insurance marketplace?

The health insurance marketplace (sometimes called an "exchange") is where to go to get health insurance under the Affordable Care Act. The marketplace for Florida is HealthCare.gov. You can use the marketplace to compare plans, learn whether you qualify for cost-saving subsidies, and sign up for the plan that works best for you.

Where can I get in-person help with my application?

In Florida, if you need help understanding your options for coverage under Obamacare or signing up for a plan, you can get free assistance from a trained “navigator” or certified application counselor.

Navigators and certified counselors aren’t allowed to recommend a plan for you. Rather, they can explain your options, answer your questions, and help you apply for the plan you choose.

Private insurance agents or brokers can also help you understand your health care coverage options under Obamacare. Unlike government-trained navigators and counselors, they are allowed to suggest the best plan for you.

To find a navigator or certified application counselor in Florida, go to Find Local Help at HealthCare.gov. There, you can enter your city and state or zip code to get a list of helpers available in your area.

What does "open enrollment" mean?

"Open enrollment" is the period of time, once a year, when you can choose or change your insurance provider or what kind of plan options you want -- for example, monthly premium and annual deductible amounts -- for the upcoming calendar year.

For the first year of Obamacare, the open enrollment period begins on October 1, 2013 and closes on March 31, 2014. For the second year, open enrollment begins on November 15, 2014 and closes on December 7, 2014. Thereafter, open enrollment is expected to run from October 15 to December 7 of any given year.

Choose carefully, because after you make your choices, you must live with them until the next open enrollment period.

"Special enrollment" is an exception to the enrollment rules available for job-based insurance. If you qualify for special enrollment, you can sign up during a time period outside of the open enrollment period.

What if I live in more than one state?

You should purchase a plan from the marketplace in the state you consider your primary residence -- where you vote, pay taxes, and so on. But snowbirds need to be sure they choose an appropriate “multistate” plan.

Some multistate plans may be restricted to a certain region – for example, a metropolitan area that straddles state boundaries. Others will be more appropriate for someone who migrates longer distances, spending, say, summers in Alaska and winters in Arizona.

Ask the insurance provider for details, and don’t sign up for a plan until you’re sure it will cover you where and when you need it.

What if I travel frequently?

Traveling shouldn't present any problem under a marketplace insurance plan. Simply sign up for a plan in the state of your primary residence. The plan will cover you in case of emergencies that happen out of state.

Learn More

For more information about Obamacare in any state, including a link to the state’s health insurance exchange, choose the state from this list.

Information & Documents to Have on Hand

Here's a checklist of information to gather before you apply for health coverage at HealthCare.gov.

Social Security numbers for you and other members of your household who will be covered by your insurance plan

Policy numbers for any current health insurance plans

Documents to help you calculate your annual income. Include all sources, such as employment, pensions, alimony, rental property, or other income. If you have a job, gather together pay stubs or W-2 forms. If you’re self-employed, have last year’s tax return handy, as well other records that can help you estimate your yearly income.

If you or anyone in your household is eligible for job-based health insurance, a completed Employer Coverage Tool for each available plan

A good idea of your budget for health insurance, so you know how much you can afford to spend each month. This will help you choose the best plan from among those offered to you.

Finally, keep a list of any questions you want answered before you sign up for a health insurance plan. To get answers to your questions, or for information on signing up for a plan, see How Do I Sign Up for Obamacare in Florida?

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About This Website

Press Release: New Website Provides Local Obamacare Information

September 23, 2013

A new website, ObamacareByZipCode.com, gives people the answers they need about the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare). In plain English, it guides consumers to reliable, local information about their new health insurance options.

When users choose their state or enter their zip code, they will quickly find:

whether or not they’re required to get health insurance

what the available plans cover

how much coverage will cost, and

how to sign up in each state.

For consumers concerned about cost, the site shows how to determine whether they qualify for subsidies. It also explains the new rules about expanded Medicaid eligibility.

The new site was created by Albin Renauer, founder of LegalConsumer.com, and is coauthored by Renauer and legal editor and writer Shae Irving. LegalConsumer, which until now has concentrated on consumer bankruptcy, began in 2005, when Congress overhauled federal bankruptcy laws.

“When politicians tried to make it harder to file bankruptcy, I vowed to make it easier. When I read about politicians making it hard to get information about Obamacare, it got my blood boiling -- and I realized I could help folks find that information the same way I do with bankruptcy.”

Some states, says Renauer, are hiding the ball when it comes to the new options for healthcare coverage under Obamacare. Missouri, for example, has not created an insurance marketplace (exchange), forbids state officials from cooperating with the federal government, and provides no information. “It is being run like a covert operation, with no marketing or detailed information about its products or their prices,” wrote the New York Times. (Missouri Citizens Face Obstacles to Coverage, Aug. 2, 2013.)

On ObamacareByZipCode.com, all consumers need to do, says Renauer, is start with a zip code. The site will guide them to all the official local resources they need to make sure they get the maximum benefits under the law.

Another reason for expanding a bankruptcy website to cover health care reform? It’s obvious to Renauer: “Huge medical bills are a major reason that people are forced into bankruptcy.”

About LegalConsumer.com

LegalConsumer.com has helped more than a million consumers navigate the bankruptcy process by providing a free online “means test calculator,” which shows people whether or not they’re eligible to file for bankruptcy.

After receiving his J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School in 1985, Albin Renauer worked for various public-interest law firms in the Bay Area and as a staff attorney for Chief Justice Rose Bird of the California Supreme Court. He spent 17 years as an editor at leading do-it-yourself legal publisher Nolo, where he helped create numerous books and software programs, including the bestselling Quicken WillMaker. He also edited Law on the Net, the first online directory of legal resources, and was the architect of Nolo's Webby Award winning website.